3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

4 For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

G Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Ver. 1.Thee. Judea was no more laid waste by its ancient enemies. The persecution of Epiphanes did not continue long. Many have attacked the Church; but they cannot overcome her, nor will she cease to preach the truth, and to continue pure and holy.

Ver. 3.Money. The Chaldees acted impolitically in leaving the country without inhabitants, and Cyrus will derive no immediate advantage from your return. C. — The Jews had not injured the Chaldees, nor mankind the devil. But both had offended God, who out of mercy paid their ransom. W.

Ver. 4.Assyrian. Pharao, (Sa. T.) or rather Nabuchodonosor, (C.) and the princes of Assyria, who acted tyrannically. H.

Ver. 5.Long, by the Chaldees, weak Jews, and strangers, who misconstrue my conduct towards my people, and represent it as the effect of injustice, or of weakness.

Ver. 13.Servant, Christ. In vain do the Jews attempt to apply this to any other. It is wonderful that Grotius should follow their steps, and understand Jeremias to be meant; though elsewhere he allows that the prophet speaks only of the Messias. De Verit. v. 19. — This author has been of great prejudice to religion. The Chaldee and many modern Jews have been compelled by evidence to apply this to the Messias. See Geir. &c. Jesus was pleased to assume the form of a servant. Phil. ii. 7.

Ver. 14.Of men, who have disfigured the countenance of our Saviour with buffets, &c. The Jews would not receive him under this abject form, though it had been foretold equally with his elevation. C.

Ver. 15.Sprinkle with baptism, (H.) and his manifold graces. C. — Sept. “so many nations shall wonder at him.” H. — Mouth, out of reverence. How many great princes have submitted to his yoke? C. — Beheld. The Gentiles (M.) embrace the faith, at the sight of Christ’s miracles. C.